in right now to the failure of the president's policies. he's got to be able to litigate the case, make the case that the policies the president has put forward have caused the economy to continue to go down. because folks believe the economy's bad right now, but what they don't actually believe is that it's the president's fault. he is got to make that case in the debate with the president standing on the stage with him, that the president is the one to blame for the economy that we've got right now. >> mike: there's a little bit of delicacy going on. if he acts too much on the attack, it will look like he's showing disrespect to the president. if he doesn't go after him like you've said he'll look deferential. coach me as if i was mitt romney, the office without being deferential. >> i think it's a matter of tone and how you address the president. he think as long as governor romney addresses the president as mr. president, with all due respect, your policies have failed the american people, i think that as long as he carries a respectful